A debate is a discussion or structured contest about an issue or a resolution. A formal debate involves two sides: one supporting a resolution and one opposing it. Such a debate is bound by rules previously agreed upon. Debates may be judged in order to declare a winning side. Debates, in one form or another, are commonly used in democratic societies to explore and resolve issues and problems. Decisions at a board meeting, public hearing, legislative assembly, or local organization are often reached through discussion and debate.

1. Basic Debating Skills

2. What is a debate ?
 A debate is basically an argument. That is not an undisciplined
shouting match between parties that passionately believe in a
particular point of view. In fact the opposite is true.
 Debating has strict rules of conduct and quite sophisticated
arguing techniques and you will often be in a position where you
will have to argue the opposite of what you believe in.

3. What is a topic ?
• The TOPIC is something to argue about.
• They are often about current issues of public importance or
about general philosophies or ideas.
• In all arguments there are two sides to any topic.
• The team that agrees with the topic is called the AFFIRMATIVE
and
• The team that disagrees with the topic is called the NEGATIVE.

4. The Definition
 If a debate is going to take place then it must be agreed in advance what the
debate is going to be about.
 Deciding and explaining what a topic means is called ‘defining the topic’.
 The job of defining begins with the AFFIRMATIVE. The first speaker of the
affirmative must explain in clear terms what they believe the topic means.
 The negative team may agree with or choose to challenge the definition
presented.

5. The Team Line
• Because debating is a team event it is important that the
speakers work together as a team.
• The TEAM LINE is the basic statement of "why the topic is
true" (for the affirmative) and
• "why the topic is false" (for the negative).
• It should be a short sentence, presented by the first speaker
of each team and used by the other two speakers to enforce
the idea of teamwork.

6. The Roles of The Speakers
In a debating team each speaker has specified
roles that they must fulfill to play their part in the
team.

7. The Roles of The Speakers
1st Affirmative must:
– Define the topic.
– Present the affirmative's team line.
– Outline briefly what each speaker in their team will talk
about.
– Present the first half of the affirmative case.

8. The Roles of The Speakers
1st negative must:
- Accept or reject the definition.
- If you don't do this it is assumed that you accept the definition.
- Present the negative team line.
- Outline briefly what each of the negative speakers will say.
- Rebut a few of the main points of the first affirmative speaker.
- The 1st negative should spend about one quarter of their time
rebutting.
- Present the first half of the negative team's case.

9. The Roles of The Speakers
2nd affirmative must:
- Reaffirm the affirmative's team line.
- Rebut the main points presented by the 1st negative.
- The 2nd affirmative should spend about one third of their
time rebutting.
- Present the second half of the affirmative's case.

10. The Roles of The Speakers
2nd negative must:
- Reaffirm the negative's team line.
- Rebut some of the main points of the affirmative's case.
- The 2nd negative should spend about one third of their
time rebutting.
- Present the second half of the negative's case.

11. The Roles of The Speakers
3rd affirmative must:
- Reaffirm the affirmative's team line.
- Rebut all the remaining points of the negative's case.
- The 3rd affirmative should spend about two thirds to three
quarters of their time rebutting.
- Present a summary of the affirmative's case.
- Round off the debate for the affirmative.

12. The Roles of The Speakers
3rd negative must:
- Reaffirm the negative's team line.
- Rebut all the remaining points of the affirmative's case.
- The 3rd negative should spend about two thirds to three
quarters of their time rebutting.
- Present a summary of the negative's case.
- Round off the debate for the negative.

13. Rebuttal
- In debating each team will present points in favor of their case.
- They will also spend some time criticizing the arguments presented by the
other team. This is called rebuttal.
- There are a few things to remember about rebuttal:
1. Logic - to say that the other side is wrong is not enough.
2. Pick the important points - try to rebut the most important points of the
other side's case.
3. `Play the ball' - do not criticizes the individual speakers, criticize what they
say.

14. Manner in which to speak
- Manner is how you present what you say and there are various
aspects of manner that you need to be aware of.
1. CUE CARDS. Do not write out your speech on cue cards.
2. EYE CONTACT. Is very closely related to cue cards.
3. VOICE. There are many things you can do with your voice to make
it effective.
4. BODY. Your body is a tool for you to use. Make hand gestures
deliberately and with confidence.
5. NERVOUS HABITS. Avoid them like the plague.
6. ELOCUTION AND OTHER BIG WORDS. This is not an exercise in
grammar or elocution.

15. The Marking Scheme
Every adjudicator marks to a standard.
You will get a mark as follow:
20 for matter.
20 for manner.
10 for method.
50 total.